Italian Black Man Allegedly Beaten to Death

After intervening to help his friend Samuele Cenciarelli escape the blows of a crowd of men, Willy Monteiro Duarte himself drew the group’s fury and died after suffering several kicks and punches on September 6. A 21 year old man originally from Cabo Verde, Duarte lived in Colleferro, a small town just south of Rome, Italy. Working in a restaurant and avidly supporting the local AS Roma sports club, Duart recently gained Italian citizenship, an uncommon achievement for young immigrants to Italy. By all accounts, he had “perfectly integrated” into Italian society.

The four men accused of the brutal attack have been identified as brothers Garbiele and Marco Bianchi, Mario Pincarelli, and Francesco Belleggia, all of whom resided in the neighboring town of Artena where they had gained a reputation for violence. 

Now being held in a Rebibbia prison, the four 20 year-old men have maintained their innocence throughout the police investigation, stating that they never had contact with Duarte or Cenciarelli. Rather, they instead claim that they passed the early morning hours of the 6 in a nearby cemetery having intercourse. Multiple witnesses, however, have come forward and corroborated the presence of the four men in the park. 

Many Italians and others around the world have come together to denounce the atrocious act, which has sparked large racial and social justice protests. Thousands of Italians marched through the streets of cities including Milan and Turin to protest racism in the country. Moreover, many Italians have aligned with the Black Lives Matter movement in the US, as questions of racial justice persist in both nations.  

Nicola Zingaretti, the mayor of the Lazio region (which includes the town of Colleferro), condemned the actions of the accused men and promised to pay the legal fees for the Duarte family. Furthermore, Italian Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte personally called the family to express his condolences. Other famous Italian actors, musicians, and celebrities have taken to social media to call for change in Italy and to show their solidarity.